Reconfigurable water distribution system for a walk-in tub bathing installation with a single pump for multiple functions
AssigneeDaniel Oliver
InventorsDaniel Oliver, Eric J. Kownacki, Graham J. Campbell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reconfigurable water distribution system for a walk-in tub bathing installation including two or more types of discharge ports for discharging water. The system includes a single motorized pump having an input connected to a suction port of the bathing installation, and an output port delivering pressurized water. A pipe system selectively connects the pump to the two or more types of discharge ports to selectively direct the pressurized water to the different ones of the types of discharge ports. The system selectively enables the bathing installation to perform a plurality of different functions using a single pump.
Claims15
A reconfigurable water distribution system for a walk-in tub bathing installation with three types of discharge ports for discharging water, the system comprising:
- a single motorized pump having an input connected to a suction port of the bathing installation, and an output port delivering pressurized water;
- a pipe system connecting the outlet port of the pump to the three types of discharge ports, the pipe system including a first valve to configure a first water path and a second water path between the first valve and a respective one of the three-types of discharge ports to selectively direct the pressurized water to one of the three types of discharge ports;
- wherein a first type of discharge ports is a microbubbles jet in a wall of the bathing installation, and wherein when setting the first valve to direct pressurized water to the first type of discharge ports, a microbubbles function is performed;
- said second water path having a second valve that connects to a diverter valve for selectively directing a flow of pressurized water to a second type of discharge port and to a third type of a discharge port,
- wherein the second type of discharge port is one or more bath jets and the third type of discharge port is a drain discharge port for discharging pressurized water from the walk-in bathing installation for rapid draining to a sanitary drain, and
- wherein when setting the first valve to direct pressurized water to the second water path and said second valve is set to direct pressurized water to the diverter valve, and the diverter valve is set to direct pressurized water to:
- the second type of discharge ports, a bath jetting function is performed, and
- the third type of discharge ports, a drain function is performed;
- and
- wherein the water distribution system selectively enables the bathing installation to perform at least three different functions using a single pump.
A walk-in bath tub installation comprising:
- a walk-in bath tub having a drain system, one or more bath jets fitted in one or more walls of the tub to provide a whirlpool function, one or more small jets to provide a microbubble function, and a discharge drain, and a seat;
- a reconfigurable water distribution system, comprising:
- a single motorized pump having an input connected to a suction port of the bath tub, and an output port delivering pressurized water;
- a pipe system connecting the pump output port to the one or more bath jets, to the one or more small jets, and to the discharge drain connected to the drain system, the pipe system including one or more valves to configure water paths between the pump, the one or more bath jets, the one or more small jets, and the drain system to selectively direct the pressurized water to the one or more bath jets, the one or more small jets, and the drain system to perform a whirlpool function, a microbubble function, and a drainage function, respectively.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.